Overview

In the world of Inuit traditional stories, animals and humans are not such different creatures. Animals can speak to, understand, and form relationships with humans. In The Orphan and the Polar Bear an orphaned boy who is abandoned on the sea ice by a group of cruel hunters is discovered and adopted by a polar bear elder. While living in the polar bear’s village, the orphan learns many lessons about survival, but most importantly, he learns something about himself and his own place in the world.

Author Biography

Sakiasi Qaunaq has lived most of his life in the Arctic Bay area. His grandmother told him stories as a child and fostered in him a love for traditional legends. In his youth the stories were told for entertainment, but today he feels their retelling is crucial to sustaining Inuit traditions and culture. Eva Widermann is a freelance illustrator and concept artist whose work has been published in a wide variety of books, magazines, and games. Her work has become renowned for its realistic and evocative edge.